Transcription

1 The private development of Altos del María is located at an altitude between 550 and 1,000 meters above sea level in the environmentally sensitive Cordillera Central of Panama that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic. Altos del María covers an area of over 3,700 hectare s situated in the Municipalities of San Carlos and Chame. Altos del María is the natural habitat for Panama s unique fauna, animals and 100 s species of birds. Due to its location and altitude it is a natural area for the collection and distribution of water for this central area of Panama, feeding into the Municipalities of Chame, San Carlos and Capiera. Within the boundaries of Altos del María there is over 72 kilometers of roads and is broken down into small parcels of land which are then sold. To date just over 1,600 lots have been sold with 100 s more available or yet to be made available for purchase. Currently just over 300 homes have been built on these lots with just over 100 occupied by full time residents. The remainder of these homes are weekend homes or unoccupied and available for purchase. Annually an average of 20 new homes are built in Altos del María, with this number increasing as the economy of Panama strengthens. As with any development of this size, the environment is stress and changed. The pattern of animals have been disrupted and the natural fauna has been manipulated to meet the needs of the development. There is also indication that the natural flow and distribution of water within and outside of the development has been impacted. To better understand how the supply and distribution of water has been impacted by the ongoing development of Altos del María, we must first review how water is naturally collected and distributed. The total land area that contributes to surface or groundwater is called a watershed, drainage basin, or catchment area (This is the area where Altos del Maria is situated). The volume of water available for municipal supply depends on the size of the watershed, the slope of the ground, the type of soil and vegetation, and the type of land use. Water is in constant circulation, powered by the energy from sunlight and gravity in a natural process called the hydrologic cycle. Water evaporates from ocean and land surfaces and is held temporarily as vapour in the atmosphere, it than falls back to the Earth s surface as precipitation. When the rate of precipitation exceeds the rate at which runoff seeps into the soil, evaporates, or is absorbed by vegetation, bodies of surface water such as streams, rivers, and lakes are formed. Water that infiltrates the surface becomes groundwater, slowly seeping downward into extensive layers of porous soil and rock called an aquifer. Under the pull of gravity, groundwater flows slowly and steadily through the aquifer. In low areas or under pressure it emerges in springs and streams. Both surface water and groundwater eventually return to the ocean, where evaporation replenishes the supply of atmospheric water vapour. Winds carry the moist air over land, precipitation occurs, and the hydrologic cycle continues. Stream flow varies in response to climatic factors and human activities. Streams are a dynamic part of the environment and are good indicators of what is happening in a watershed (such as where Altos del Maria is located). Stream flow in a watershed area includes all water contributed from headwater areas, stream banks, channels, flood plains, terraces, connected lakes, ponds, wetlands, and

2 groundwater. Because watersheds are complex systems, each tends to respond differently to natural or human activities. The physical characteristics of a watershed (land use, soil type, geology, vegetation, slope, and aspect) and climate control the quantity and quality of water that flows from them. Changes to any of these characteristics can affect water quantity and quality. For example, the removal of vegetation or construction can change the water storage and infiltration characteristics of a watershed. Because developed areas contain less vegetation to slow runoff and hold soil in place, the rate and quantity of water that runs off the surface to streams increases and less seeps into the ground replenishing the aquifers. During heavy rains, the increased runoff and erosion can also result in the increased chance of flooding, mudslides, and impaired water quality. Groundwater is a significant source of drinking water as it not only is pumped from the ground, but a significate amount empties in streams and rivers to keep them flowing year round. As water seeps into the ground it creates an aquifer, the area where water fills the aquifer is called the saturated zone (or saturation zone). The top of this zone is called the water table. The water table may be located only a foot below the ground s surface or it can sit hundreds of feet down. Aquifers are typically made up of gravel, sand, sandstone, or fractured rock. Water can move through these materials because they have large connected spaces that make them permeable. The speed at which groundwater flows depends on the size of the spaces in the soil or rock and how well the spaces are connected. Groundwater can be found almost everywhere. The water table may be deep or shallow; and may rise or fall depending on many factors. Heavy rains may cause the water table to rise, or heavy pumping of groundwater supplies may cause the water table to fall.

3 Groundwater supplies are replenished, or recharged, by rain that seeps down into the cracks and crevices beneath the land's surface. In some areas people may face serious water shortages because groundwater is used faster than it is naturally replenished. In other areas groundwater can be polluted by human activities. Water in aquifers is brought to the surface naturally through a spring or can be discharged into lakes and streams. Groundwater can also be extracted through a well drilled into the aquifer. Shallow wells may go dry if the water table falls below the bottom of the well. Some wells, called artesian wells, do not need a pump because of natural pressures that force the water up and out of the well. Water has such a strong tendency to dissolve other substances and it is rarely found in nature in a pure condition. When it falls as rain, small amounts of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide become dissolved in it; raindrops also carry tiny dust particles and other substances. As it flows over the ground, water picks up fine soil particles, microbes, organic material, and soluble minerals. Groundwater usually acquires more dissolved minerals than does surface runoff because of its longer direct contact with soil and rock. It may also absorb gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane. In populated areas the quality of surface water as well as groundwater is directly influenced by land use and by human activities. For example, storm water runoff contaminated with agricultural or lawn pesticides and fertilizers, as well as with road oils, can flow into streams and lakes. In addition, effluent from malfunctioning septic tanks and subsurface leaching fields can seep into groundwater. With the development of Altos del Maria some irreversible changes have occurred to this significant watershed area. One of these changes is a reduction of water that replenishes the groundwater supply, by building roads and homes less area is available for water to seep into the ground. The reduction of area for the replenishment of the groundwater supply increases the amount of surface water which quickly runs into the rivers than deposited into the ocean. This development has also had an impact on the natural flow of the water. Water that once naturally flowed into the river or ground has been diverted.

4 Roads and homes have reduced the areas where natural fauna provided shade and hold rain water. By providing less shaded areas, more water is available for evaporation, thus reducing again the amount of water that replenishes the ground and surface water supplies. Additional contamination to the water supply has occurred due to increased development and continues to increase as more people build homes in Altos del Maria. Use of herbicides, pesticides and home cleaning chemicals along with the effluent from septic systems are all on the rise. Based on reports from people who live in communities outside and for kilometers below the development of Altos del Maria there have been indications of natural springs drying up or the flow from these springs dramatically decreasing. The final impact is the amount of water consumed by residents and the developer. This water is used for construction, irrigation of gardens and lawns, pools and personal use. With the addition of new housing on existing properties, the consumption of water usage in Altos del Maria continues to increase annually. For each liter used in Altos del Maria it is one less liter available elsewhere. While none of these factors on the own have had a major impact, combined it adds up to a large amount of water that has additional contaminants or is no longer reaching the thousands of people who rely on water from this important watershed area. Within the development of Altos del Maria there are four sources for the supply of water to property owners. Three of these sources are from natural springs that have been dammed to create a reservoir and the fourth is a well. The water from these sources is moved through hundreds of kilometers of piping to strategically located holding tanks. From these tanks water is than distributed to each property owner. Due to limitations of this water supply infrastructure, property owners in a number of areas within Altos del Maria are regularly without water for up to a day at a time. It has also been reported that this infrastructure has flaws in it where up to 30% of the water is lost. Also with Altos del Maria some property owners have taken it upon themselves to build small dams to create ponds or to have a secondary source of water for irrigation. The development of Altos del Maria has provided a significant economic benefit to surrounding areas and will continue to do so as more homes are built on exiting lots. Altos del Maria has also provided a unique opportunity for people to live close to nature with a modern infrastructure. For the developer it has been a huge undertaking, investment with a long term vision. It would be difficult to reverse the development that has already been approved and it would have an impact on the dreams and investment of those who have purchased property in Altos del Maria and wish to build homes in the future. What must be considered at this point is: What impact will additional development have on this significant watershed area? How will the thousands of people who rely on this water supply be affected? More importantly how will future generations be impacted? Before providing any more approvals for development, an in-depth study needs to be conducted to fully understand what the impact will be to everyone s water supply before irreversible damage is done. Any immediate economic benefit from new development will not compensate those who have no fresh water today or in the future. Within 5 to 10 years the population in Altos del Maria will double within the existing infrastructure, this is without any further development being approved.

5 This document is intended for discussion purposes only. Further study by independent experts is required to validate and determine the short and long term implications of development with this important watershed area. No decision should be made based on information contained in this document alone, but in conjunction with an independent review.

FACT FLASH 5: Groundwater What is groundwater? Groundwater is fresh water (from rain or melting ice and snow) that soaks into the soil and is stored in the tiny spaces (pores) between rocks and particles

INTRODUCTION What is groundwater? Water contained in saturated soil and rock materials below the surface of the earth. It is not NEW water, but is recycled water through the hydraulic cycle. The source

Water on the Move warm up 1 Water on the Move About three-fourths of Earth s surface is covered by water. Water on the Move Video!!! Water on the Move Water moves between Earth s surface and the atmosphere

General Groundwater Concepts Hydrologic Cycle All water on the surface of the earth and underground are part of the hydrologic cycle (Figure 1), driven by natural processes that constantly transform water

True False Click and Drag Artesian wells are naturally under pressure and require no additional pumps to get the water out of the ground. Groundwater recharge is the water from infiltration Groundwater

Black River Watershed Management Plan Plan Final Report Part II: Appendices May 2010 This watershed management plan was prepared for the New York State Department of State Division of Coastal Resources

Science 8 Chapter 1 Section 1 Distribution of Water (pp. 8-13) How much fresh water do we have? The vast majority of water on Earth, about 97 percent, is salt water Two thirds of that fresh water supply

WASA Quiz Review Chapter 2 Question#1 What is surface runoff? part of the water cycle that flows over land as surface water instead of being absorbed into groundwater or evaporating Question #2 What are

Classroom Copy VI-1. The Water Cycle What is the water cycle? Did you know that the water we see all around us never gets destroyed, and new water never gets created? Instead, it constantly recycles and

CHAPTER 13 OUTLINE The Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater Does not contain complete lecture notes. To be used to help organize lecture notes and home/test studies. Hydrologic cycle The hydrologic cycle is

Water Resources The next time you drink a glass of water, think about where the water came from. Did you know that some of the water in your glass may have been part of a rainstorm that pounded Earth long

Watersheds & Water Pollution Runoff What is runoff? Review: When rain or snow falls onto the earth, it just doesn't sit there, it starts moving according to the laws of gravity. A portion of the precipitation

Issue paper: Aquifer Water Balance 1. Introduction And Background 1.1. Purpose and Scope The population in Kitsap County has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to increase substantially in the

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY POST GRADUATE GOVT. COLLEGE FOR GIRLS.SECTOR-11 CHANDIGARH CLASS-B.A.II PAPER-A RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT: WORLD PATTERNS Hydrological cycle The sun, which drives the water cycle,

13 Water: A Limited Resource Overview of Chapter 13 Importance of Water Water Use and Resource Problems Water Problems in U.S. and Canada Global Water Problems Water Management Water Conservation Water

Environmental Resource Inventories What are ERIs? Significance of information How to use them Environmental Resource Inventory - ERI Compiled by the environmental commission Information about the natural

Groundwater Subsurface water contained in soil and bedrock. There is ~ 60 times as much water underground than in freshwater streams and lakes. Source of groundwater is rain and snow. Represents the infiltration

Lecture 14 Water: A Limited Resource Lecture 14 1. Importance of Water 2. Water Use and Resource Problems 3. Water Problems in U.S. and Canada 4. Global Water Problems 5. Water Management 6. Water Conservation

Water Resources Global Water Globally, 1.2 billion people live in areas with water supply.source:internationalwater inadequate How sustainable are freshwater resources? 80 countries with 40% of world pop.

Water is a solid, liquid, & gas. 71% of earth s surface is water. Our body is two-thirds water. Fresh water water that is not salty and has little or no taste, color, or smell. Salt water water that contains

Class ----- Date -------- TEKS Lesson 7.SC TEKS 7.8e Model the effects of human activity on groundwater surface water in a watershed. and TEKS Lesson 7.8C: Effects of Human Activity on Surface Water and

AP Environmental Science Unit One GLOBAL WATER: RESOURCES and USE Properties of Water Water! Composed of 2 Hydrogen and 1 oxygen! Exists as solid, liquid or gas! Polar! Forms Hydrogen bond between 2 water

What is Groundwater? How does groundwater get in the earth? Where does it come from? Groundwater begins as rain or snow that falls to the ground. This is called precipitation. Only a small portion of this

Hydrosphere: Water Distribution 1.Think About It Why is it that the water in your bottle could have been drunk by George Washington? 2. The Hydrosphere: An Overview The hydrosphere is ALL the water on/in/over

UNIT 2 Chapter 1: Inquiring about Weather Unit 2: Weather Dynamics Chapter 1: Hydrological Cycle Science 10 Mrs. Purba Importance of H 2 O From the beginning of time when water first appeared, it has been

The Hydrological Cycle KARTIK SHARMA LECT. IN CIVIL ENGINEERING GGSGP CHEEKA The Hydrological Cycle What you need to know: Be able to draw a diagram of the hydrological cycle. Describe its main elements.

Overview Students will... Understand the interaction between ground water and surface water. Observe the difference between a permeable layer and an impermeable layer in an aquifer. See how water is stored

Air & Water Lesson 2 Chapter 6 Conserving Our Resources Objectives Summarize the importance of air. Describe the water cycle. Main Idea Living things use air and water to carry out their life processes.

Introduction to Groundwater Unit Essential Questions: How does the Earth cycle its water through its major reservoirs? How does society s use of resources affect water quality? Presentation Objectives:

.. Inputs Something that enters the system (material or energy) Outputs Something that leaves the system (material or energy) Component/store Section of a system where material or energy is held Transfer/flow

Ground Water Chapter 11 How does water get underground? How is water stored underground? How does water move? How do we find it? Why we need to protect it. Lake Powell. Water levels are decreasing every

Name: Date: 1. Which statement correctly describes both gases and liquids? Their shapes stay the same in any container. Their shapes change when they are in different containers. Their volumes stay the

9 SURFACE WATER SECTION 9.1 Surface Water Movement In your textbook, read about surface water and the way in which it moves sediment. Complete each statement. (13 points) 1. An excessive amount of water

Groundwater Say Thanks to the Authors Click http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (No sign in required) To access a customizable version of this book, as well as other interactive content, visit www.ck12.org CK-12

W Water Is a Natural Resource Understanding the Water System Cost WATER QUALITY in KENTUCKY The Water Cycle Figure 1. Trends in Water Withdrawals and Population, 1950 to 1995. Millions of People/Billion

CHAPTER 14 Water Resources Looking for Water... in the Desert The 2300-kilometer Colorado River once flowed deep and wide across the Southwest to Mexico s Gulf of California. Since the Colorado River Compact,

The Hydrologic Cycle (with emphasis on groundwater) The Hydrologic Cycle (viewed in series of steps) 1. Water evaporates from bodies of surface water and from land 2. As moist air is lifted, it cools and

Movement and Storage of Groundwater The Hydrosphere The water on and in Earth s crust makes up the hydrosphere. About 97 percent of the hydrosphere is contained in the oceans. The water contained by landmasses

Water Distribution Rivers Question 1 One of the main issues concerning fresh water is that most of it is found where? A. Glaciers and Icecaps B. Aquifers C. Underground D. Oceans Question 2 How does water

NAME RUNNING WATER AND GROUNDWATER I. Introduction In this exercise we will investigate various features associated with streams and groundwater. Our drinking water ultimately comes from either streams

CHAPTER # 4 Fate of Pollutants in the Environment Once a pesticide is introduced into the environment, whether through an application, a disposal or a spill, it is influenced by many processes. These processes

A MYSTERY DOWN UNDER! Objectives: The student will be able to: Define appropriate groundwater terms; Explain where groundwater is found; Identify sources of groundwater pollution and possible solutions

Geologic description of the Pocatello Aquifer The upper layers of the aquifer are the most permeable (water flows through most easily), and are formed from gravels deposited during and after the catastrophic

Grade 8 Science Read p.4 Activity Class Discussion (The many ways people use water) P. 5 Read p.6 Read pp. 8-9 Water exists everywhere on Earth, and covers 70% of its surface. 97% of this water is found

Hydrological Cycle The Hydrological Cycle What is the Hydrological Cycle? Hydrological cycle = The Water cycle What is precipitation, evaporation and condensation? Evaporation = Liquid to Gas (gains energy)

Shower Curtain Watershed Overview: What is a watershed and how do humans affect its health? What is a watershed? How do our actions affect the health of a watershed? Students explore these questions by

From My Backyard to Our Bay Reporting Problems on Our Bay, Rivers, and Streams We can all be the eyes and ears of our local waterways. Maryland has established the Chesapeake Bay Safety and Environmental

Our Water Cycle and Sweetwater Wetlands Water - The Most Precious Resource on Our Water Planet Water is a renewable but limited resource. It is renewable because water is constantly circulating through

CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTION WHAT IS THE HYDROLOGY? The Hydrology means the science of water. It is the science that deals with the occurrence, circulation and distribution of water of the earth and earth

East Central Wayne County Comprehensive Plan - Natural Features, Land Suitability Page 170 NATURAL FEATURES, LAND SUITABILITY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS Introduction The residents of East

Groundwater Level and Movement Infiltration and Recharge Infiltration Entry of rain water into the ground. Recharge Addition of infiltrated water to the aquifer. Two types of Recharge- 1. Natural 2. Artificial

Aqueducts in California Grand Coolee Dam Desalinization Chapter 13: Water Resources Fresh Water on Earth Only a small fraction of Earth's water is fresh water & available for human use. Discuss with your

On March 22, 2014, a major landslide occurred near Oso, Washington. Death toll currently at 30, with 15 still missing. Groundwater Before and After Swipe http://bit.ly/pen1jt N. Fork Stillaguamish River

4.2 The Water Cycle The Sun keeps water moving through the hydrosphere by providing energy. In this section, you will learn about the water cycle and where water goes so that it is available for people,

Chapter 13 Water: A Limited Resource Overview of Chapter 13 Importance of Water Water Use and Resource Problems Water Problems in US and Canada Global Water Problems Water Management Water Conservation

How could we possibly change the Hydrologic Cycle on an Island as big as Vancouver Island? Do you think for a moment that humans altering the Hydrologic Cycle would also change the Weather? Precipitation

Hydrologic cycle, runoff process Motivation of hydrological modelling What happens at the catchment and in the stream when it rains? How does the increased/decreased runoff affect (not only) the landowners

Unit 3: The hydrosphere 1. The water on the Earth 2. The water cycle 3. Water in the oceans 4. Water on the continents 5. Importance of water Think and answer? a. Where can water be found in our planet?

Maitland Valley WATERSHED Report Card 2018 Maitland Conservation has prepared this report card as a summary of the state of your forests, wetlands, and water resources. WHERE ARE WE? We are one of 36 Conservation

ECOSYSTEMS, WATERSHEDS AND POLLUTION CONTROL REVIEW ECOSYSTEMS: (6 th grade content) How biotic and abiotic factors make an ecosystem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdlwptkg-vi 1. A/An ecosystem is a

Stormwater Management in Your Backyard: Stormwater 101 Gregory Rusciano Program Associate, Water Resources Rutgers Cooperative Extension New Jersey Sea Grant Extension Program How much water do we have?

Topic 3, Subtopic A of Review Handbook or Chapter 10 of Earth Science Book Groundwater 97% of Earth s water is found as saltwater in Earth s oceans. That leaves only 3% for freshwater! But 90% of the freshwater

MENDOCINO WATER RESOURCES AND WATER CONSERVATION MENDOCINO S LIMITED GROUNDWATER SUPPLY The Town of Mendocino is located on the Mendocino Headlands along the Pacific Coast in Mendocino County, California

Lesson 1.1 Earth: The Water Planet Although the vast majority of Earth is covered in water, one in eight people lacks access to clean freshwater. Do Now pg 91: Describe how freshwater is a renewable resource,

The Water Cycle 1 Imagine taking a trip around the water cycle as a single drop of water. This cycle has no beginning or ending point, so it does not matter where the trip starts. Since over 70% of the

Maitland Valley WATERSHED Report Card 201 The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority has prepared this report card as a summary on the state of our forests, wetlands, surface water, and ground water resources.

Groundwater Chapter 10 I. Importance of groundwater A. Groundwater is water found in the pores of soil and sediment, plus narrow fractures in bedrock B. Where is fresh water - 2 % of all water is fresh